Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Arts Fund
We believe that art and artists can help us see the world differently, bringing unheard stories and narratives to the fore and opening up new imaginative possibilities.
We see culture as the heart of a just society, where all people and communities have a right to express themselves through art and culture. We believe that art and artists can help us see the world differently, bringing unheard stories and narratives to the fore and opening up new imaginative possibilities. To realise this potential, we believe the sector needs long-term structural and cultural change.
What you need to know
Our ambition is to support a portfolio of organisations who represent this change to develop, learn from each other and (further) explore the potential of art for personal, cultural and social transformation. Together, we want to:
build capacity and resources for culture within historically underfunded communities.
explore the role that artists can play in addressing issues of social justice.
create the infrastructure for a more equitable cultural sector.
We are looking to work with organisations for whom these aspirations are central to their vision and mission. The Arts Fund supports the long-term development and transformation of these organisations as a route towards social justice and sustainability.
How much
Up to £300k
Who can apply
We want to support cultural organisations who:
use their creative practice to help us engage with the complexity of the world around us.
centre the lived experience of those affected by injustice in their programmes, leadership and governance.
are exploring how values of care, equity and justice can be embedded in their own organisational culture.
have a clear sense of their own role in supporting change as part of a wider ecosystem.
are generous with their learning and working with other organisations towards mutual aims.
use their creative practice to challenge traditional cultural hierarchies of genre and art form.
Our definition of ‘arts’ includes crafts, creative writing (including poetry), dance, design, film, music, opera, photography, digital arts and media, theatre and drama, the visual arts and cross-arts practices.
Restrictions
What we will not fund
Work that is focused on entry-level employment pathways.
Work which aims primarily to deliver targeted health, wellbeing, educational or public health outcomes.
Academic research programmes.
Organisations who work primarily in formal education settings.
Newly registered organisations that have yet to produce independently audited or examined accounts.
Individuals.
Capital projects and equipment purchase.
Eligible expenditure
This fund is focused on supporting organisations to become more sustainable and to deepen the impact of the work. This can include support for specific posts, skills development, underpinning of the strategy or business model and for project delivery which is central to your organisation’s mission and vision.
When assessing applications, we will consider how organisations have been impacted by systemic inequities, such as (but not limited to) racial inequity, socio-economic disadvantage, having disabilities, living in isolated rural communities or experience of the immigration system. We will prioritise applications which are actively anti-racist and intersectional in their approach.
How to apply
Complete the online first stage application form, which will be open from 4 April until 31 May at 12pm. If you have them, we also ask that you submit your organisational business plan and budget.
We plan for all applicants to receive a decision on their first stage form by 31 July. This may vary depending on the volume of applications that we receive.
If we progress your application to the second round, we will contact you to arrange an conversation at a convenient time between August and October and request any additional information we need. We will send you questions for the conversation in advance, and only request additional information that you already have and use.
We will let you know the outcome by the end of October.